Performance evaluation of input devices in virtual environments

The user interface approach of virtual reality promises to be superior to two-dimensional approaches. Therefore, there is a need to perform experiments with different input devices. We developed a virtual environment test bed which integrates different input devices and modules for rapid modelling tests and evaluation. Our focus of the tests was a comparison between a conventional computer mouse, a space mouse and an electromagnetically tracked device. With the tests, we tried to measure the accuracy and performance of grabbing and positioning virtual objects.